Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

" W ould ye care tae break yer fast with me in me solar before we set out on our ride?"

At the sound of Dahlia's voice Arran stirred sleepily and hastened to his feet. He'd hardly slept during the night. As a soldier he was used to sleeping in harsh places and, normally, the cold, stone floor outside Dahlia's bedchamber would not have kept him awake.

What he had not been prepared for, was the sheer hell of knowing she was only mere paces away from him on the other side of a door. That, and the memory of their kiss and the feel of her in his arms, meant sleep was well-nigh impossible.

"Aye, melady. I'd like that. I thank ye fer the invitation. I shall join ye in the solar as soon as I've relieved myself and splashed some water over me face and hands."

By the time he approached the solar his heart was singing. They'd be riding together, and with luck and good planning, he'd make sure they were on their own and unseen by others. He knew just the place of solitude he needed. It was a perfect place beside the nearby loch where few people ever ventured.

After they'd broken their fast with bowls of porridge, honey and cream, and buttered bannocks with raspberry jam, they made ready to depart.

Dahlia was excited, her eyes shining with anticipation as they approached the stables. "I've been cooped up in the castle fer weeks now and cannae wait tae be out of here and on me horse. Even if ‘tis but fer one day."

He knew how much she'd been longing for home, and it cut him deep to realize she was no longer contemplating escape because it would place him and his mother, once again, at the mercy of Bairre Mackinnon. And Arran had no doubt that Bairre would not hesitate to murder Emilia if it appeared Arran was disobeying his orders.

They galloped out of the courtyard and along the road. Once they arrived at a bend in the road and the castle guards were out of sight Arran raised a hand and they slowed the horses.

"Let's wait a few moments tae be sure nay one is following us"

The horses continued at a walking pace and when no one appeared on the road behind them he took the reins of Dahlia's mare and merged into a small track leading to the left, almost hidden from the road.

Continuing at a slower pace it was not long before they left the road far behind and had entered thick woodland. They rode on, seeing only a crofter's cottage on a hillside above. There was no sign of anyone along the track they'd taken.

They then came to the shore of a small loch.

"I had nay idea this path was here. I am amazed."

The sun was shining now and the loch sparkled blue and silver in the morning light, reeds grew along the shoreline and several plump brown birds were wading in the muddy shallows.

Dahlia clapped her hands. "Thank ye Arran, fer bringing me tae this special place."

He smiled, feeling pleased with himself. This was one of his favorite spots and it was a joy to be able to share it with her.

"Aye. I guessed this would be tae yer liking. It's another of me secret places. I've never brought anyone here before."

"May we dismount? I would love tae dabble me toes in the water again."

He helped her off the horse, and, as she slid off the mare's back, he took her in his arms and their lips met in a rapturous kiss.

"This is a rare pleasure." Arran said as they drew apart. "Tae be alone with ye, away from the prying eyes and the madness of Bairre Mackinnon, is heaven sent."

She gave a thoughtful nod. "I didnae expect him tae agree tae allow me tae ride with ye this morning. I thought he'd refuse."

Arran huffed. "Me too. ‘Tis the reason I was expecting he'd have sent a rider tae keep an eye on us."

"Well, if he did so, we've given the man the slip and he'll be searching in vain fer us along the road," she chuckled.

Leaving their boots beside the tethered horses with their cloaks, they wet their toes in the water and strolled hand in hand along the rocky shoreline. Arran breathed deep of the crisp morning air, revelling in the freedom and the sunshine. Dahlia walked alongside, holding her dress high to ensure it did not trail in the mud.

"I have an idea." Her eyes danced with mischief.

"Oh?" If he was honest with himself, he would have to admit he had an idea or two himself. Chief among them was the prospect of Dahlia in his arms, naked, sighing with pleasure as he layered kisses over every inch of her delectable body. "And what is this idea of yers?"

He wasn't the least prepared when she breathed a small sigh, tugged his hand and said, pleadingly, "I'd love tae swim in the loch."

He laughed. Her idea and his had quite a deal in common. "Why, ye'd have tae take off yer clothing tae dae so."

"And ye would come swimming with me, of course, Arran."

"So… both of us naked then."

"I did have that in my mind. Both of us…"

He folded her into his arms and they kissed again, long and luxuriously. Not fearing someone would interrupt them, he tangled his fingers in the lacing of her dress, releasing the tie so that the fabric hung loose.

Scarcely able to breathe as she raised her arms, he took the hem of her skirt in both hands and raised it over her head exposing the smooth cream of her shoulders and the soft curve of her breasts above her stays.

"Ye've nae Beattie here tae tend tae ye melady, so I must dae the task of yer maid and unlace yer stays fer ye and take off yer petticoats." There was no point in him attempting to hide the ever-hardening bulge under his kilt. His heart beating wildly, with a sigh, he surrendered to the heated rush of passion in his manhood.

"Mmm." She gave a little moan and pressed a little closer as his fingers trailed along the arch of her neck and across her shoulder.

She reached up and toyed with the lacing on his shirt. "'Tis yer turn. I'll nae be naked as a babe here all by meself. I want tae feel yer skin next tae mine."

"Only too happy tae oblige every one of yer desires, Lady Dahlia. It is me pleasure."

She untied the knot and opened his shirt, tracing the smattering of hairs and stroking across his chest.

A surge of pleasure rippled through his body at her soft touch. He could scarcely restrain himself from ripping away her stays and exposing her smooth round breasts. He licked his lips, imagining the taste of her.

He pulled off the shirt and loosened his belt.

She seemed spellbound at the sight of him. "Why ye're so... so… big, Arran." She ran her hands over his biceps. "And ye're very strong."

He laughed. It was time for her to be naked.

Turning his attention to her stays he slowly unlaced them, savoring each moment of revelation. At first, they grew loose around her and he was afforded a peep of satin smooth skin and the tantalizing curve of a breast, then as his fingers flicked the laces lower, the stays slipped down so that the pink nubs of her glorious breasts became visible.

She gasped and gave a tiny moan as he explored the puckering nipples, gently rolling them between finger and thumb while she leaned into him, arching her neck, heightening his access to her.

He layered kisses along her neck to her nape and then across to her shoulders while his fingers lowered the stays until the last of the laces were undone and the stays fell to the ground, leaving her bare to the waist and only her petticoats standing between her and complete nakedness.

She turned to face him, her eyes sparkling and her voice thick with passion. "Now fer ye. Will ye let me take down yer kilt?"

"I believe me manhood has been waiting fer this fer some time."

She gazed down at him, her mouth ajar. "Yer manhood? Why, indeed it seems tae be as large as the rest of ye, Arran."

She unbuckled his belt and removed it, then set her mind to undoing his kilt.

Finding it impossible to resist her nearness, her sweet fragrance and the promise of that expanse of creamy skin he reached out to take her in his arms.

She squealed. "Nae yet. I've nae taken down yer kilt."

"Never mind, lass," he groaned. The waiting was altogether too much for him. "It will find its way off in good time."

He took her mouth in a kiss, his hands cupping her breasts stroking her, his fingers on her nipples, rolling them between finger and thumb when she was moaning and writing against him, he lowered his mouth and took her sweet nipple to suckle while he undid her petticoat. As the garment slipped to the ground, he trailed his fingers down her side, tracing the curve of her hip,

"Ye're so beautiful, Dahlia." He groaned. It was impossible to believe that at last she was in his arms, naked, as he'd dreamed so often.

He picked her up and carried her a little further up the bank, where he laid her down in a bed of soft ferns while she tangled her arms around his neck and held him tight.

"Kiss me again, Arran. I want ye tae take me as a man takes a woman." She glanced down at him where he pressed against her thighs.

He smiled softly and caressed her cheek. "I dinnae think this is what we should be doing, Dahlia. Ye're betrothed tae Bairre Mackinnon, whether ye like it or nae. Ye're nae a free woman tae be with me."

She pierced his gaze at that. "But that is exactly why I need tae be with ye, Arran. I want ye tae be me man. I dinnae wish me maidenhood tae belong tae Bairre."

Arran hauled in a deep breath. "I understand, lass. And with me whole heart I wish naething more than that we were free tae love each other. Yet we are still beholden tae him. We are still his prisoners and so is me maither."

Clutching him tighter, she pressed her softness against him, looking up at him with passion-filled, hooded eyes. "I need ye. Ye've made me body come alive in ways I never kent. Now there's this aching in me that needs yer touch."

She was intoxicating and the thought of the pleasure he could bring her was near enough to drive him from his senses.

But still he cautioned. "What if ye became with child? What would the laird have tae say if ye were bearing a babe? He is ruthless enough tae take both yer life and that of yer babe."

She lay back, breathing deeply, her legs slightly apart like a wild spirit of the loch who had come to land.

With a moan he rolled onto his back beside her. "Ye cannae ken, Dahlia, what it means tae me tae be here with ye like this. I've dreamed of nothing else fer four years than tae take ye in me arms and make love tae ye. I've nae looked at another lassie since I first saw ye."

She sat up suddenly. "Four years?" Her voice trailed off in confusion.

"Aye. Four long years."

Seizing his arm, she gazed deep into his green-gold eyes, searching for something there that would guide her thoughts. "Are ye saying ye saw me first four years ago?"

He nodded.

"Then if ye first saw me four years ago, when I was held prisoner by James Mackinnon, ye must have been at the castle also."

She toyed with a lock of hair falling over his face, her fingers tracing the scar across his chest. "I hated the guards and I hated everyone at Castle Mackinnon. Except fer…"

He studied her, saying nothing. "Ye were Black-Mask." She blinked tears away. "The one person who showed me any kindness. A man who risked his life fer me. And…" she focused her attention on the scar, "a courageous man who took a grave wound across his chest while he was doing his best tae rescue me."

He nodded thoughtfully.

"Why did ye nae say something?"

"Our lives are complicated enough. I didnae wish ye tae feel a sense of obligation tae me. I wanted tae earn yer good regard without burdening ye with gratitude."

She lay down, her hair spread around her in a silvery cascade. "I want ye, Arran. And there's nae a hint of gratitude in me wanting. I want the kisses and the handling and ye inside me."

He leaned over her chuckling. "How can I refuse ye when it's all I've been dreaming about fer so long?" He lowered his mouth to hers and was lost in the taste of her and her rose petal scent.

"Now I want ye tae dae that thing ye dae tae me nipples."

"Happy tae oblige." He leaned in, cupping her rosy-tipped breasts, taking the puckered nub in his mouth.

"Och, aye." She cried out, her head thrashing amongst the bracken. "When ye dae that tae me I feel it here." She took his had in hers and placed it between her thighs.

He groaned, stroking her plump mound, noting the slickness of the pale hair curling there. She was wet and ready for him, her nether-lips swollen, her hips moving under his hand.

With her nipple in his mouth offering him succor, he slid his fingers lower, opening her damp folds to his intrusion.

She cried out as his finger entered her, his thumb working her little hard bud, and he slid a second finger inside her.

"Dear God in heaven, and all the saints." She moaned loudly as he lowered his mouth from her nipple to the place between her thighs. "I didnae ken it could feel like this."

Now she was pumping her hips against his mouth as his tongue laved her, and small incoherent cries issued from her lips. Her eyes were closed and it was not long before he could see she was close to her climax.

Her legs bent, she reached up to seize him by the shoulders, her fingernails raking his back as she spasmed again and again. He felt her inside muscles gripping his fingers as he rode her hips with his hand while she cried his name, head thrown back, eyes tightly closed.

As the storm slowly settled, Arran gritted his teeth against his own overarching need for her. When she opened her eyes, she regarded him with something like wonder.

She snuggled her head onto his shoulder. "I had nay idea," she said in a small voice.

"Och lass. There are many delights yet tae come fer us both. But what we must dae is find a way out of our predicament. Before we can be safe together, I must find me maither."

He stroked strands of her silvery hair.

"What I've been engaged in fer some time now is secretly meeting with farmers and peasants who work the area around the castle. Someone must know where she's being held and I intend tae find her."

"But now ye've been tasked with guarding me, so ye'll nae have time enough to roam the countryside in search of her."

"'Tis a bittersweet conundrum. While we're together I cannae think of aught else and there's nowhere I'd wish tae be but by yer side. But even though I cannae continue me search as before, I have many agents now keeping an eye out fer any suspicious activity that could indicate someone is being held. Whether in a deserted farmhouse, a croft, or outbuildings. Trust me, if maither is within a few miles of Castle Mackinnon, sooner or later I will find out."